Fast Food Cooks

A Year 10 Certificate, Certificate I, or a short period of on-the-job training is sometimes needed, but is not necessary to work in this job. Around two in five workers have Year 12 as their highest level of education.

Tasks

taking and serving food and beverage orders, and receiving payment from customers

preparing food such as hamburgers, pizzas, fish and chips

washing, cutting, measuring and mixing foods for cooking

operating cooking equipment such as grills, microwaves and deep-fat fryers

This is a large occupation employing 37,800 workers. Over the past 5 years the number of jobs has grown strongly.Moderate growth is expected in the future. New jobs and turnover from workers leaving may create between 25,001 and 50,000 job openings over the 5 years to 2020.

Fast Food Cooks work in most parts of Australia.

They nearly all work in Accommodation and Food Services.

Part-time work is very common. Full-time workers, on average, work 41.6 hours per week (compared to the all jobs average of 40 hours).

Average earnings for full-time workers are around $550 per week (lower than the all jobs average of $1,230). Earnings tend to be lower when starting out and higher as experience grows.

The workforce is fairly young. The average age is 18 years (compared to the all jobs average of 40 years). Around 8 in 10 workers are young (aged 15 to 25 years).

Around 7 in 10 workers are male.

In 2016, the unemployment rate was above average.

Employment Outlook

Number of Workers

Year

Number of Workers

Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, Department of Employment trend data to November 2015 and Department of Employment projections to 2020.

Year

Number of Workers

2005

22200

2006

27100

2007

34200

2008

40400

2009

36600

2010

34200

2011

31000

2012

40600

2013

36900

2014

34200

2015

37800

2020

40700

Weekly Earnings

Full-time Earnings

All Jobs Average

Weekly Earnings (before tax)

Earnings

Fast Food Cooks

Source: Based on ABS Characteristics of Employment survey, August 2015, Cat. No. 6333.0, Customised Report. Median earnings are before tax and do not include superannuation. Earnings can vary greatly depending on the skills and experience of the worker and the demands of the role. These figures should be used as a guide only, not to determine a wage rate.

Earnings

Fast Food Cooks

All Jobs Average

Full-Time Earnings

550

1230

Hours

Weekly Hours Worked

Category

Fast Food Cooks

Source: Based on ABS Labour Force Survey, annual average 2016, Cat. No. 6291.0.55.003: Customised Report. Hours actually worked by people who usually work full-time, and share of employment by full-time and part-time status, for this job compared to the all jobs average.

Category

Fast Food Cooks

All Jobs Average

Full-time

17

68.4

Part-time

83

31.6

Average Weekly Hours (full-time)

41.6

40

Category

All Jobs Average

Full-time

68.4

Part-time

31.6

Average Weekly Hours (full-time)

40

Main Industries

Top Industries

Main Employing Industries (% share)

Source: Based on ABS Labour Force Survey, annual average 2016, Cat. No. 6291.0.55.003: Customised Report. Industries are based on the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC 06).

Main Employing Industries

Industry (% share)

Accommodation and Food Services

93.6

Retail Trade

4.6

Manufacturing

1.5

Arts and Recreation Services

0.3

States and Territories

NSW

VIC

QLD

SA

WA

TAS

NT

ACT

Employment by State and Territory (% share)

State

Fast Food Cooks

Source: Based on ABS Labour Force Survey, annual average 2016, Cat. No. 6291.0.55.003: Customised Report. Share of workers across Australian States and Territories, in this job compared to the all jobs average.

State

Fast Food Cooks

All Jobs Average

NSW

31.4

31.8

VIC

32.2

25.5

QLD

18.8

19.8

SA

7.5

6.8

WA

5.3

11.2

TAS

2.8

2

NT

0.7

1.1

ACT

1.2

1.8

Age Profile

Age Profile (% share)

Age Bracket

Fast Food Cooks

Source: Based on ABS Labour Force Survey, annual average 2016, Cat. No. 6291.0.55.003: Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.

Age Bracket

Fast Food Cooks

All Jobs Average

All Jobs Average

15-19

60

-5.4

5.4

20-24

19.6

-9.9

9.9

25-34

8.1

-23.4

23.4

35-44

5.1

-21.7

21.7

45-54

4.1

-21.1

21.1

55-59

1.9

-8.7

8.7

60-64

1.2

-5.9

5.9

65 and Over

0

-3.8

3.8

Gender

Male Share

Female Share

Gender (% share)

Category

Fast Food Cooks

Source: Based on ABS Labour Force Survey, annual average 2016, Cat. No. 6291.0.55.003: Customised Report. Male and female share of employment in this job compared to the all jobs average.

Category

Fast Food Cooks

Category

All Jobs Average

Males

70.9

Males

53.6

Females

29.1

Females

46.4

Education Level

Top Education Levels

Highest Level of Education (% share)

Type of Qualification

Fast Food Cooks

Source: ABS, Education and Work (2016). Findings based on use of ABS TableBuilder data. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Skill level requirements can change over time, the qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.

Type of Qualification

Fast Food Cooks

All Jobs Average

All Jobs Average

Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate

0

-8.6

8.6

Bachelor degree

8.6

-17.9

17.9

Advanced Diploma/Diploma

0

-10.1

10.1

Certificate III/IV

2.8

-18.9

18.9

Year 12

43.9

-18.7

18.7

Years 11 & 10

31.8

-17.7

17.7

Below Year 10

13

-8.1

8.1

A Year 10 Certificate, Certificate I, or a short period of on-the-job training is sometimes needed, but is not necessary to work in this job. Around two in five workers have Year 12 as their highest level of education.

If you are interested in this style of work, there are a wide range of training options available that could lead to this or a similar job. The pathway that is right for you will depend on your skills and interests.

Customer and Personal Service

Food Production

Planting, growing, and harvesting food (both plant and animal), including storage and handling.

English Language

60% Important

English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Sales and Marketing

57% Important

Showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.

Production and Processing

56% Important

Raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.

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Activities

The work activities workers rate as most important are shown below.

Performing for or Working Directly with the Public

79% Important

Performing for, or speaking with, the public. This includes speaking on television, serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.

Training and Teaching Others

78% Important

Identifying the educational needs of others, developing training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Staff

74% Important

Giving information to supervisors, co-workers, and staff by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events

72% Important

Comparing objects, actions, or events, looking for differences between them or changes over time.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems

70% Important

Using information to work out the best solution and solve problems.

Cooks, Fast Food Opens in a new windowO*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. The information on this site is derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2